- Sunak quipped Trump sees conflicts as Nobel Peace Prize chances.
- Global armed conflicts highest since World War II.
- US-led multilateral system breaking down, new world order.
New Delhi: Former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak took a swipe at US President Donald Trump on Tuesday, suggesting that the American leader might see the growing number of global conflicts as opportunities to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Speaking at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in New Delhi, Sunak highlighted the alarming rise in armed conflicts worldwide, saying the number had reached its highest level since World War II.
"It is no coincidence that right now there are more armed conflicts happening than at any point since World War II. 61 different state-based armed conflicts around the world. Now I look at that, and I’m worried," Sunak said.
Rishi Sunak: 'I Look At 61 Wars And Worry, Trump Sees 61 Nobel Prizes' 💀😂 The ex-UK PM was speaking at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum taking place in New Delhi. 📹 Bloomberg / YT https://t.co/Eur5H8gajy
— RT_India (@RT_India_news) October 13, 2026
He then made a pointed remark about Trump’s long-standing ambition to win the Nobel Peace Prize. "I think President Trump probably looks at that and thinks 61 opportunities to win the Nobel Peace Prize," the former British prime minister added.
Trump's Nobel Peace Prize disappointment
Sunak’s remarks come amid Trump’s repeated assertions that he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for his claimed role in resolving international conflicts.
In recent statements, Trump claimed to have "settled 8 wars" and argued that he should have received eight Nobel Peace Prizes. He cited several conflicts, including tensions between India and Pakistan and the Israel-Hamas war, while expressing frustration over the decision to award the 2026 prize to South African jurist and former UN human rights chief Navi Pillay.
Trump also described the decision as an "indelible stain" on Norway, expressing anger over being overlooked for the prestigious award.
Sunak's quip drew a contrast between the growing number of armed conflicts and Trump’s repeated emphasis on his claimed peacemaking achievements.
'Trump is a symptom, not the cause'
Beyond his jibe at Trump, Sunak offered a broader assessment of the changing global order, arguing that the US-led multilateral, rules-based system was breaking down.
He said China had emerged as a peer competitor to the United States across economic, military and technological spheres, adding to uncertainty in international relations.
"We all grew up investing in, operating in a multilateral rules-based framework, largely enforced by the United States. President Trump is not a cause for that; he is a symptom of that," Sunak said.
He added that the world was entering a period in which the future shape of the international order remained unclear, creating significant geopolitical uncertainty and danger.
India and Gulf nations charting their own course
Sunak also pointed to the growing willingness of countries such as India and Gulf nations to pursue independent foreign policies rather than automatically align with either Washington or Beijing.
He suggested that the shifting balance of power was reshaping international partnerships and making it increasingly difficult to predict how countries would respond to global crises.
You may also like to watch